Flush with success in the UEFA Conference League and qualifying for one of the right byes at the top of the knockout round, Rayo Vallecano is breathing some rarified European air these days. This isn't the first time, however, that we've seen a side get distracted by European success and forget about domestic chores; in Rayo's case, bad idea, as it is sliding downward in the table on a six-match winless run. Meanwhile, surprise package Elche has earned results in four of five, including a spirited 2-2 with Real Madrid, and is unbeaten in eight at home this term. Scoring laader Rafa Mir also put two past Girona in Elche's last home game December 7. Play Elche on Money Line
This is going to be a banger of a matchup between two juggernauts of LaLiga. Barcelona currently sits top of the table with the best offense in the league and it's not even close. Villarreal, however, have been not one of the best sides in Europe, but are currently undefeated at home this season. They have seven wins and one loss. This is a team that knows how to hold down the fortress in front of their home fans, and are a team that has shown in recent years they know how to take points off Barcelona. Barcelona will press for goals, like always, but their backline is leaky. I think Villarreal not only score here, but will manage to at the very least, draw.
Over the last two years of LaLiga play, no fixture has seen more goals than when Barcelona and Villarreal clash. Their last four LaLiga matches saw the following score lines. 2-3 to Villarreal, 5-1 to Barca, 5-3 to Villarreal, and 3-4 to Barcelona. Goals just everywhere when we see these titans clash, and per usual, the pitch will be loaded with tremendous goal scoring talent. Barcelona has slowed down every so slightly in recent weeks, but I'm expecting a clash between a long-time rival to bring out their goal scoring boots once more. Have fun with this one, and bet on goals!
I know what everyone is of us thinking, and I get why we're thinking this. "Buckets, this has to be a trap right". It might be, but it's also a trap I'm going to fall for every single time haha. Atletico Madrid matches should rarely have the goal-line set to over/under 2.5 goals, especially when they're playing a team as defensively vulnerable as Girona. While Girona are slowly showing signs of improvement, they are still outclassed here in every way. If Girona plans on getting points off Atleti, they won't be able to sit back and keep things cagey, they will have to push. When you push players like Julian Alvarez, Antione Griezmann and Alexander Sorloth, you're in for a rough time. Goals Incoming.
If I can be honest with you all, everything about this match confuses me in terms of the lines available. I expect Atletico Madrid to win this match, and dare I say, win this match easily. Girona are terrible this season. No need to beat around the bush. They are a fraction of their former UCL self, and have been dropping points to weak clubs all over Spain. Atletico Madrid, are not a weak club in Spain. They are loaded with attacking talent and have depth that Girona can only dream of this season. I have Atletico not only winning this match, but I have them doing it by multiple goals. Back the better team and don't overthink this one!
Real Madrid continue to be a brutal side to try to predict. One week they're beating up Athletic club 3-0, the next they're struggling to win a cup match against a club in the third tier of Spanish football. There's a couple things I'm just going to auto bet right now. I'm going to bet Kylian Mbappe to score, I'm going to bet BTTS, and I'm going to bet the overs. Sevilla is much worst than Real Madrid, but with that being said I expect them to see a defensively struggling Madrid side and press for goals. Real Madrid should win this easy, but wins aren't coming easily for Los Blancos, so just sit back, bet on the over, and enjoy the chaos.
Levante play without a doubt the most frustrating style of football, at least for me. This team is bottom of the LaLiga table, and is doing nothing to change their losing ways. They've lost seven matches straight across all competitions, including a Copa del Rey loss to a Segunda Division side. Their last five matches have all had the exact same thing happen. We've seen both teams fail to score, and under 2.5 goals. 1-0, 2-0, 1-0, 2-0, 1-0 in their last five and all losses. Real Sociedad isn't good, but right now mentally Levante is already defeated, and I don't see them pressing, even though they probably should.
Ahhh we meet again. Another matchup that has a tremendously high scoring team (Sevilla) playing a team that refuses to score goals. Oviedo have a shocking, seven goals scored so far this season over 15 matches. Less than one goal scored every two combined games. The thing that's so frustrating about Oviedo, is not just the fact they don't score goals, it's that they sit back and play for nil-nil draws. Three of their last five matches ended 0-0. The other two, 1-0 and 2-0. I don't think Oviedo will score here, and I see a 1-0 or 2-0 win for Sevilla, with the under cashing.
If you don't like the -150 I have absolutely no problem adding in a nice little BTTS action to get that juice down. I saw the same thing every single week with Barcelona. Don't overthink it - just bet on goals. 16 matches played in LaLiga with 47 goals scored and 20 goals conceded. Their matches have averaged 4.18 goals per game, and they're taking an Osasuna side who have hit over 3.5 in three of their last four matches across all competitions. Pick any of the Barcelona starters to score, sit back, and enjoy the fireworks at Spotify Camp Nou.
Unfancied Elche has been drawing rave reviews in Marca and elsewhere in Espana for unexpected early feistiness that has Los Franjiverdes in the top half of the table approaching Christmas. Eder Sarabia's side has a real target-man in Rafa Mir, who scored a brace in last weekend's 3-0 win vs. Girona and is the spear-tip for a front-footed attack that has dazzled with good ball movement (as Real Madrid would attest in a recent draw) orchestrated by midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, targeted by some European heavyweights (including Arsenal). Meanwhile it has been a bit discouraging for Mallorca, as the islanders sit in the drop zone and have trouble scoring goals if it's not Vedat Muriqi (who has eight) doing the business. Play Elche on Money Line
These two clubs have played each other four times since October of 2024. Those four matches saw an astonishing combined 19 goals over those four matches. Real Madrid is coming into this match off a massive 3-0 win over Athletic Club propelled by Kylian Mbappe, and will look to find continued success against Celta. Celta on the other hand, is not an easy team to beat by any means, and have scored against Real Madrid four times over their last two matches. I'm expecting goals from both ends of the pitch, and the over to clear. This might even be a match with ladder potential!
Atletico Madrid is higher in the La Liga table but dealing with several absences. Athletic Club has covered this number in three straight if we throw out matches vs. powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid. Athletic has 13 points from eight home league games, while Atletico has scored just eight total goals in seven away domestic trips. Wish O/U 3.5 was offered as I'd certainly go Under but no dice.
With Athletic looking out of sorts lately, this could be a chance for Atleti to pick up three crucial points on the road (which have been a bit hard to come by for Diego Simeone's men). Both of losses at midweek, but Athletic's was a bit more concerning as they had no look at Real Madrid in a 3-0 loss that has Ernesto Valverde wondering what happened to last year's side that qualified for the Champions League. Nico Williams should be back in the lineupbut even he has slightly disappointed. Meanwhile, Diego Simeone's Atleti is also off a loss (3-1 midweek at Barcelona), and will be minus potent Alex Baena on Saturday, but Alexander Sorloth is waiting in the wings. Play Atleti on Money Line
Real Madrid are not a team we're used to talking about when using the word rough, but man have they looked rough in recent matches. They are currently without a win in their last three LaLiga matches, and their defense has been worrisome to say the least. They recently played Girona, who are 18th on the table and are sitting in a relegation spot, and draw. Not only did they draw, but they made Girona look good. Madrid has loads and loads more talent than Athletic Club, but I'm not backing Madrid until they fix whatever is going on both on and off the pitch. If they play how they did against Girona or Elche, they'll lose this outright.
It's been 20 years since Atletico won at the Camp Nou, recently re-opened after extensive renovations. Atleti did win in Catalunya last year when Barca was temporarily housed at Montjuic, running out 2-1 winners, and observers in Espana suspect Diego Simeone might have a Liga-winning side in his midst. They also suspect something continues to be wrong with Barca, as Hansi Flick appeared distressed even after the 3-1 Saturday win over Alaves. The gears aren't always meshing, and Flick's preferred high-line can can ruthlessly exposed by teams (and there are few) so inclined to give it a go...like Atleti. Simeone has his own Barca killer in big Norwegian Alexander Sorloth, who has scored six goals in nine career matches vs. Barca. Play Atleti on Spread